Department for Transport

Roads: Accidents

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 9 March (HL6487), how many pedestrians were knocked over by motor vehicles in each of the last three years; and of those, how many sustained serious injuries or were killed.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The number of reported pedestrian casualties, including killed or seriously injured (adjusted) casualties, in collisions where the pedestrian was hit by a known motor vehicle in each of the last three years is shown in the below table. Year KilledSerious (adjusted) Total pedestrian casualties hit by  a motor vehicle20184376,38621,44520194536,11620,98220203334,08114,133

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Human Rights

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights Human Rights and Business 2017: Promoting responsibility and ensuring accountability(Session 2016–17, HL Paper 153), what steps they will take to introducea mandatory human rights and due diligence law.

Lord Callanan: The UK has a strong record on human rights protection, much of which results from our framework of legislation. The UK already requires companies to undertake due diligence on sustainability matters under existing legislation on corporate transparency. UK listed companies are required to report on relevant environmental, social and governance aspects in their annual reports. Large businesses are also required to publish supply chain transparency statements on steps they have taken to ensure that no modern slavery or human trafficking is taking place in their business or through their supply chains. Both reporting requirements compel disclosure of a company’s due diligence arrangements where these are in place. In certain circumstances, companies can already be held liable for breaches of duties of care to others where harm is suffered as a foreseeable consequence of the breach.

Energy: Prices

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government what further steps they are taking to alleviate the impactof rising energy prices.

Lord Callanan: The Government is committed to ensuring that support is provided to help consumers deal with the impact of high wholesale energy costs. The Government is providing a package of support worth £9.1 billion in 2022-23 which includes a £150 Council Tax rebate for bands A-D, £144 million discretionary funding for local authorities and a £200 energy bill reduction which will help over 28 million households. This is in addition to the support the Government will continue to provide through the Warm Home Discount Scheme, which this winter is providing over 2 million households with a £140 rebate off their energy bill. The Government has announced that it would be increasing to £150 and help an extra 780,000 households next winter. Further, Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments help ensure the most vulnerable are better able to heat their homes over the colder months.

Companies: Sustainable Development

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to introduce in the UK measures equivalent to the proposal published by the European Commission on 23 February for a Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence.

Lord Callanan: The UK already requires companies to undertake due diligence on sustainability matters under existing legislation on corporate transparency. UK listed companies are required to report on relevant environmental, social and governance aspects in their annual reports. Large businesses are also required to publish supply chain transparency statements on steps they have taken to ensure that no modern slavery or human trafficking is taking place in their business or through their supply chains. Both reporting requirements compel disclosure of a company’s due diligence arrangements where these are in place.

Offshore Industry: Russia

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage more oil companies to cut ties with their Russian partners.

Lord Callanan: The Government welcomes the growing number of companies, organisations, and governments joining the international community in isolating Russia, both diplomatically and financially. The Government has always been clear there would be massive consequences and a severe cost for any Russian military incursion into Ukraine. Russia’s assault on Ukraine is an unprovoked, premeditated and needless attack against a sovereign democratic state. The UK and our international partners stand united in condemning the Russian government’s reprehensible actions.

China General Nuclear Power Corporation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was discussed at the meeting on 20 July 2021 between the China General Nuclear Power Group and the then Minister of State (Minister for Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change) at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Lord Callanan: The Government can confirm that a meeting between China General Nuclear (CGN) and the then Minister of State took place on 20 July 2021. The Department does not hold minutes for this meeting as set out in your request.

Patents

Lord Hannan of Kingsclere: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will ensure that UK patents granted via the European Patent Office are subject to the same conditions, and confer the same rights, as national patents granted via the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO); and what assessment they have made as to whether the IPO could grant a separate but equivalent right which provides the same benefits as a national UK patent but provides a grace period which is fully compatible with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific (CPTPP).

Lord Callanan: The Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership sets clear and consistent rules in the intellectual property sector which will be of benefit to both UK businesses and consumers. It would be inappropriate to comment on the specific matters raised as negotiations on the terms of the UK’s accession are ongoing. The UK possesses a world leading intellectual property regime, and it will not sign trade deals that compromise it. Our membership of the European Patent Convention (EPC) is an important part of that regime, by providing an efficient mechanism for innovative UK businesses to protect their inventions across 38 states. The UK takes its international obligations seriously and our accession negotiations will be consistent with our national interest and wider Government priorities, which include our continued alignment with the European Patent Convention and other international IP treaties.

Hydrogen

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps theywill take to support the hydrogen sector across the UK.

Lord Callanan: The UK Hydrogen Strategy reaffirms the Government’s aim to have 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity in the UK by 2030. In the strategy, the Government lays the foundations for a thriving hydrogen economy by 2030, setting out how the Government will support innovation and stimulate investment to rapidly scale up low carbon hydrogen production and use across the economy this decade. The Government has announced that it will set up the Industrial Decarbonisation and Hydrogen Revenue Support scheme (IDHRS), which will support both electrolytic (‘green’) and CCUS enabled (‘blue’) low carbon hydrogen production. The Government will be providing up to £140 million to establish the scheme, including up to £100 million to award contracts of up to 250MW of electrolytic hydrogen production capacity in 2023 with further allocation in 2024. This means that 500MW of electrolytic hydrogen production projects will be operational or in construction by 2025. The Government will also announce the revenue envelope for CCUS-enabled hydrogen and industrial carbon capture in 2022, which will allow contracts, from 2023, to be awarded for up to 1GW of CCUS-enabled hydrogen. In the coming months the Government will launch the £240 million Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, the first £100 million allocation round for electrolytic hydrogen projects and publish a sector roadmap with a focus on investment, in addition to a Sector Development Action Plan.

Solar Power

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government what further steps they will taketo support solar energy across the UK.

Lord Callanan: The Government’s Net Zero Strategy included a commitment to accelerate deployment of low-cost renewable generation, such as solar, across the UK in the 2020s and beyond.The Government is providing ongoing support to large-scale solar projects across Great Britain in the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme. The fourth CfD auction opened in December 2021 and will aim to deliver up to double the renewable capacity of the last round. Rooftop solar in Great Britain is supported through the Smart Export Guarantee scheme, which requires electricity suppliers to offer a tariff to buy electricity exported to the grid by small low-carbon generators, typically solar panels. The Government is implementing around £170 million of business rates support in England for green technologies, including solar, to support decarbonising buildings. The Government also supports UK-based innovation in solar through various innovation schemes, including the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund, and is working with the solar industry to support development of the UK solar supply chain. Energy policy is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive.

Oneweb: Satellites

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of OneWeb’s planned use of Russian Soyuz rockets to launch satellites into space; whether the launch took place as planned on 4 March from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakstan: and what plans they have, if any, to end OneWeb’s reliance on Russian Soyuz rockets and launch facilities.

Lord Callanan: The OneWeb Board voted to suspend all launches from Baikonur, including the launch scheduled for 4 March, and the company are currently considering options for alternative launches. This exercise is commercially sensitive and a matter for OneWeb.

Companies House

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many companies have been registered at Companies House that have persons with significant control based in Russia since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Lord Callanan: Between 24 February and 3 March 2022, 28 new companies and one new limited liability partnership were incorporated reporting Russian nationals as registrable in accordance with PSC legislation. In the same period 9 further companies updated their details to report that a Russian national had become registrable under the same legislation. It should be noted that PSC information is provided by companies and is not verified by Companies House.

Foreign Companies: Registration

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have tointroduce graduated sanctions to individuals who do not disclose their identity to Companies House in their proposed Registration of Overseas Entities Bill.

Lord Callanan: If a foreign company does not comply with the new obligations relating to the Register of Overseas Entities set out in the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill, criminal sanctions are in place. These include fines or a prison sentence of up to 5 years. The company’s rights over its property will also be affected. We have also included a new provision to allow the imposition of financial penalties for non-compliance without the need for criminal prosecution.

Foreign Companies: Registration

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to conduct checks to ensure the transparency of those registering overseas entities.

Lord Callanan: On 1 March, the Government introduced the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill. The Bill will legislate for a new Register of Overseas Entities that will require overseas companies owning or buying property in the UK to provide information about their beneficial owners to Companies House. Beneficial owners and managing officers of overseas entities will be required to verify their information with a UK professional who is supervised for anti-money laundering purposes, otherwise their registration will be refused. As such, information will be verified at the point of registration, annually as part of the updating duty, and at the point of removal from the register.

The United States of America Corporation

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to investigate the authenticity of the information filed at Companies House by The United States of America Corporation Ltd, which has an authorised share capital of £1.8 trillion.

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to investigate the authenticity of the information filed at Companies House by The United States of Africa Corporation Ltd, which has an authorised share capital of £500 billion.

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to investigate the authenticity of the information filed at Companies House by World Corporate Organization Ltd, which has an authorised share capital of £900 billion.

Lord Callanan: We are unable to comment on individual cases. The Registrar of Companies has no current powers to verify information properly delivered in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 or other enactments.However, following extensive consultation over 2020 and 2021, the Government published on 28 February 2022 a detailed White Paper (copy attached) setting out far-reaching reforms to Companies House which will mean that:Anyone setting up, running, owning or controlling a company in the UK will need to verify their identity with Companies House;The Registrar will have new powers to challenge information that appears dubious, and will be empowered to inform security agencies of potential wrongdoing;Company agents from overseas will no longer be able to create companies in the UK on behalf of foreign criminals or secretive oligarchs.It is the Government’s intention to bring forward appropriate legislation early in the next session of this Parliament.Corp. Transparency & Register Reform White Paper (pdf, 2048.2KB)

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Vaccination

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of declining immunity to COVID-19 in the population; and what steps they are taking to continue vaccination against COVID-19 in response to any such assessment.

Lord Kamall: The UK Health Security Agency regularly reviews data on vaccine effectiveness, including declining immunity to COVID-19. Recent data suggests that vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease with the Omicron variant is substantially lower than against the Delta variant, with rapid waning of immunity over time. However, protection against hospitalisation remains high, particularly after three doses. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) continues to review the data and will advise the Government if they observe indications in the data of changes that could be addressed by adjustments to the COVID-19 vaccination programme.The COVID-19 vaccination programme has agreed three key priorities: continued access to first, second and booster or third doses; delivery of an autumn COVID-19 vaccination campaign if advised by the JCVI; and development of detailed contingency plans to rapidly increase capacity, if required. The National Health Service continues to campaign to encourage people to come forward for COVID-19 vaccinations, particularly targeting those sections of community where we know there has been low take up for example in pregnant women and some ethnic groups.

Dementia: Health Services

Lord Hay of Ballyore: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to end geographical disparities in (1) Alzheimer's, and (2) dementia, care.

Lord Kamall: Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for services and support for people with dementia. We would expect CCGs to commission services which take into account the relevant guidance, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines and the dementia care pathway, which provides standards to improve the delivery and quality of care. Following a dementia diagnosis, patients should receive information on local services and access to relevant advice and support.In 2021/22, the Government allocated £17 million to NHS England and NHS Improvement to address dementia waiting lists and increase the number of diagnoses. This funding was made available to CCGs in June 2021. Later this year, we will set out plans for dementia in England.

Dementia

Lord Hay of Ballyore: To ask Her Majesty's Government what long-term support they are providing for (1) people with, and (2) carers of people with, dementia; and what steps they are taking to ensure those with dementia are diagnosed quickly.

Lord Kamall: In 2021/22, the Government allocated £17 million to NHS England and NHS Improvement to address dementia waiting lists and increase the number of diagnoses. This funding was made available to clinical commissioning groups in June 2021.Following a dementia diagnosis, patients should receive information on local services and access to relevant advice and support. We will continue to support carers to provide care as they would wish and to do so in a way that supports their own health and wellbeing, access to education, employment and life choices. Local authorities are required to undertake a Carer’s Assessment for any carer who appears to have a need for support.Later this year, we will set out plans for dementia in England. The new strategy will include a focus on improving the experience of being diagnosed and living with dementia, both for people with dementia and their carers.

Health Services: Standards

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Health on 27 October 2021 (59085), what are the (1) aims, and (2) scope, of thePathway Redesign Programme.

Lord Kamall: The Pathway Redesign Programme aims to improve services and patient health outcomes and create additional capacity for elective care. This will release appointment times which can be used for urgent and new referrals and reduce waiting lists.The programme will focus on redesigning some of the highest volume care pathways, such as optical care, cardiac and musculoskeletal services. Regional teams and integrated care systems will standardise ways of delivering care and adopt best practice, working with the Getting It Right First Time programmes and reduce any unwarranted variation.

Brain Cancer: Health Services

Lord Randall of Uxbridge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to improve the outcomes for brain tumour cancer patients by establishing a targeted funding bespoke panel solely for brain tumour research.

Lord Kamall: The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) encourages the research community to submit high quality proposals. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, scientific quality and value for money.The NIHR ensures that relevant experts are involved in the assessment of the research applications it receives. Assessment committees comprise individuals with a broad range of expertise due to the wide diversity of topics it reviews, which may include brain tumour experts. However, committees ensure that before an individual application is assessed, detailed written peer review reports from experts chosen for their specific expertise are considered.

Health and Wellbeing Boards and Integrated Care Systems: Meetings

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that meetings of (1) Integrated Care Boards, (2) Integrated Care Partnerships, and (3) Health and Well-Being Boards, are held in public.

Lord Kamall: The government expects integrated care boards (ICBs), integrated care partnerships (ICPs), and Health and Wellbeing Boards to operate in an open and transparent manner, including holding meetings in public. ICBs and Health and Wellbeing Boards will be subject to the requirement in the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 to hold meetings in public, excepting certain specific circumstances. While not subject to the 1960 Act, we have been clear that we expect ICPs to follow the same principles.

Health Services: Zimbabwe

Lord Oates: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect recruitment of Zimbabwean health care staff in the UK has on the health services in that country.

Lord Oates: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Zimbabwe about entering a partnership agreement concerning the recruitment of health care workers from that country.

Lord Kamall: We have made no specific assessment of the impact on the Zimbabwean healthcare system of recruitment by the National Health Service. We have had no discussions with the Government of Zimbabwe on entering a partnership agreement. International recruitment is regulated through the Code of Practice for the International Recruitment of Health and Social Care Personnel. The Code includes a ‘red list’ of 47 countries identified by the World Health Organization as having the most pressing health and social care workforce challenge, from which active recruitment is prohibited. The Government monitors international recruitment activity and where there are significant workforce flows into the NHS, particularly from low and middle-income countries, we engage with partner Governments on how this recruitment could be managed.

Coronavirus: Drugs

Baroness Rawlings: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Kamall on 3 March (HL6393), why pharmacists are unable to (1) stock, and (2) sell, COVID-19 treatments including (a) molnupiravir, and (b) Paxlovid.

Lord Kamall: Community pharmacies dispense prescriptions issued by general practice. COVID-19 treatments, including the oral antiviral treatments molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid), are not currently available for general practice prescribing. In England, these treatments are prescribed by a clinician within a COVID Medicine Delivery Unit. Where an oral antiviral treatment is prescribed, this can be collected from a named pharmacy usually in a hospital, or alternatively sent directly to the patient’s home.

Surgery

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they are making towards the implementation of Surgical Hubs in England; and how are they administering the programme.

Lord Kamall: Following successful pilots in London, the National Health Service is now developing surgical hubs across the country. There are currently 44 stand-alone surgical hubs operational in England.The additional £1.5 billion provided for the recovery of elective services includes funding for developing further surgical hubs. The Getting It Right First Time programme, in collaboration with NHS England and NHS Improvement, is providing guidance to systems and regions on how to use hubs effectively, standardise pathways and adopt best surgical practice. Systems and regions will submit bids to NHS England and NHS Improvement and this process will determine where hubs will be based.

Drugs: Northern Ireland

Lord Dodds of Duncairn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of the full implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland on the supply of medicines to Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

Lord Kamall: On 17 December 2021, the European Union issued unilateral measures intended to address the barriers created by the Protocol to supplying medicines from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. The Government is working with industry to assess these measures in detail and monitor industry behaviour and the impact on patients. We will consider whether the changes to EU law would sufficiently address the issues that the UK Government and stakeholders have identified on the operation of the Protocol.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to work with charities that represent clinically extremely vulnerable people to ensure that these groups rapidly receive communications concerning their risk from COVID-19 as restrictions and mandatory isolation comes to an end on 1 April.

Lord Kamall: We will continue to meet with charities and stakeholders representing those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19. The Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, Dr Jenny Harries, is the clinical lead for the programmes supporting these patients and has met with charities at stakeholder engagement sessions.

Dementia: Research

Lord Hay of Ballyore: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) level, and (2) quality, of (a) Alzheimer’s, and (b) dementia, clinical research in England.

Lord Kamall: No recent assessment has been made. However, between 2015/16 and 2019/20, the Government’s expenditure on all types of dementia research, including for Alzheimer’s disease, was approximately £420 million. We will set out plans for dementia in England for future years in a new strategy to be published later this year. The strategy will include the ambitions for all types of dementia research

The Senior Deputy Speaker

House of Lords: Virtual Contributions

Lord Blencathra: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker,  further to (1) the end of social distancing restrictions in the House of Lords, and (2) the increased physical participation of disabled Members, why the arrangements providing for remote participation in Standing Order 24A are still in operation.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: On 15 June 2021 the House of Lords Commission, as part of its consideration of the post-hybrid operating arrangements for the Chamber and Grand Committee, agreed that a model should be developed to allow a small number of members with long-term disabilities to continue to participate virtually. The Procedure and Privileges Committee subsequently affirmed, in its First Report of the current session (HL Paper 41), “The contribution disabled members make to the House’s debates and decisions is integral to the work of the House.” Standing Order 24A was agreed by the House on 13 July 2021 to enable those who may be unable physically to access the Chamber on grounds of long-term disability to participate virtually. The Standing Order, which was drawn up following consultation with disabled members, is not time limited.

Palace of Westminster: Security

Lord Berkeley: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what limitations exist on the number of non-pass holders permitted in the Palace of Westminster to attend (1) All Party Parliamentary Group meetings, and (2) receptions which are funded by external sources.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The number of non-passholders who can attend All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) meetings and receptions is the responsibility of the Chair of the APPG and the sponsor of the reception, irrespective of how they are funded. The total number of people allowed in each meeting room or catering venue is limited by the capacity of each room. The limits differ from room to room depending on their size.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Janke: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they will make, if any, to the government of Israel about the use of isolation for Palestinians prisoners, including for minors.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation, including the treatment of Palestinian children. We remain committed to working with Israel to secure improvements to the practices surrounding children in detention and raise this with the Israeli Ministry of Justice. We also fund projects providing legal aid to assist children with legal representation and capacity building to local lawyers.

Russia: Ukraine

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to distinguish between the people of Russia and the government of Russia in their statements on the conflict in Ukraine made in (1) domestic settings, and (2) international fora.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Prime Minister has been clear that Russia is a great country with a rich history and proud people, and that the UK does not believe Russia's invasion of Ukraine is in the name of the Russian people. We are also clear however that Mr Putin's unprovoked, premeditated and barbaric invasion requires a strong and united international response and he must lose, and we will carry on increasing the international pressure until he does.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Janke: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proportionality of the security response by Israeli forces to Palestinians accused of throwing stones.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the need to protect children. We encourage Israel to deploy security measures in a way which minimises tensions. We call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation, including the treatment of Palestinian children.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Janke: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with the government of Israel regarding reports of detention and abuse of (1) disabled, (2) underage, and (3) vulnerable, Palestinian civilians by Israeli forces.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We call on the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law and either charge or release detainees. We do this both bilaterally and in co-operation with like-minded diplomatic partners. We have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation and stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.

Israeli Settlements: Geneva Conventions

Baroness Sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effects of Israeli settlement activity on the Geneva Convention.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK's position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law. Minister James Cleverly raised UK opposition to settlement expansion with the Government of Israel on 9 November. The Fourth Geneva Convention, which applies to all occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, prohibits demolitions or forced evictions absent military necessity.

Russia: Ukraine

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask Her Majesty's Government what further steps they will take to halt Russia's military action against the people of Ukraine.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is at the forefront of diplomatic, economic, humanitarian and defensive support to Ukraine, in response to Russia's unprovoked assault. As the Prime Minister has made clear, the UK will continue to provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs to defend its homeland. We, with our allies and partners, will continue to impose the most punishing sanctions to inflict maximum and lasting pain on Russia. And we will continue to employ every method - diplomatic, humanitarian and economic - until Russia fails in its disastrous venture.

Gaza: Human Rights

Baroness Janke: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the human rights of Palestinians of (1) the restrictions placed on Gaza by the government of Israel, and (2) Israeli military activity in Gaza.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK will continue to raise the issue of freedom of movement and access into and out of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including for emergency services, with the Israeli authorities. These restrictions undermine economic development and living standards for ordinary Palestinians in Gaza.  We recognise Israel's legitimate need to deploy security measures and we encourage them to deploy these in a way that minimises tension and uses appropriate force.

Mohammad Shehadeh

Baroness Sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, if any, to the government of Israel regarding the killing of 13-year-old Mohammad Rezq Shehadeh Salah by Israeli forces near Bethlehem.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the need to protect children. We encourage them to carry out swift, transparent and thorough investigations.

Russia: Ukraine

Lord Selkirk of Douglas: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the attacks by Russia on civilians in Ukraine; and what plans they have, if any, to seek to initiate proceedings at the International Criminal Court in respect of those attacks.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Russia's use of indiscriminate force against innocent civilians, in its illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, must be investigated and those responsible must be held to account. The UK led efforts to bring together allies on 2 March to expedite an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into Russian war crimes in Ukraine. With 37 countries joining the UK, it is the largest referral in the history of the ICC. As a founder member of the International Criminal Court, the UK is willing to provide the necessary technical assistance to support successful convictions.

Russia: Ukraine

Lord Selkirk of Douglas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of the (1) killing, and (2) forced expulsion, of civilians in Ukraine, during Russia’s invasion of that country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Russia's assault on Ukraine is an unprovoked, premeditated and barbaric attack against a sovereign democratic state. Ukraine has already suffered horrific attacks and innocent people have lost their lives. Russia's invasion will have a massive human cost, and the potential for large-scale loss of life, displacement, and destruction to vital civilian infrastructure including schools and hospitals - in freezing conditions.

Russia: Ukraine

Lord Selkirk of Douglas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the government of Russia has targeted civilians, including children, in its invasion of Ukraine.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Ukraine has suffered horrific attacks, including missiles and air strikes which have torn through apartment blocks. Innocent people including children have lost their lives. Russia's actions are a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter, and show flagrant disregard for its commitments under the Budapest Memorandum and the Minsk Agreements.

Gaza: Israel

Baroness Sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about incursions by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We recognise Israel's legitimate need to deploy security measures and we encourage them to deploy these in a way that minimises tension and uses appropriate force. We call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Convention on Biological Diversity: China

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what target outcomes they have for the UK delegation to the UN COP15 Biodiversity Conference being held in Kunming, China, in April and May.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: Biodiversity loss is a global problem that needs a global solution, and the UK is committed to playing a leading role in developing an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be adopted at COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity later this year. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, we expect the COP itself to take place in the third quarter of 2022. The UK will be advocating for ambitious global targets to bend the curve of biodiversity loss by 2030. This includes targets to ensure at least 30% of the land and of the ocean is protected, ecosystems are restored, species population sizes are recovering, and extinctions are halted by 2050. The UK is calling for this ambitious set of targets to be supported by increased finance for nature from all sources (public and private) and at all levels (domestic and international), and for strengthened reporting and review mechanisms to facilitate the achievement of targets and hold Parties to account to their commitments.

Convention on Biological Diversity

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultation with stakeholders they have undertaken in preparation for the UN COP15 Biodiversity Conference.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK is committed to playing a leading role in developing an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be adopted at COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity later this year. Defra continues to work closely with a wide range of NGOs, businesses and civil society organisations to deliver its objectives. Defra is also seeking input from its specialist arms-length bodies and other Government departments in developing its approach.

Convention on Biological Diversity

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the composition of the UK delegation to the UN COP15 Biodiversity Conference.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy identified tackling climate change and biodiversity loss as the UK’s international priority through COP26 and beyond. The UK is committed to playing a leading role at CBD COP15 this year to secure agreement to ambitious global action over the next decade. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, we expect the COP itself to take place in the third quarter of 2022. I will head the UK delegation, and attendance by other UK Government Ministers and attendance by officials will be confirmed when revised dates for COP15 are available.

Home Office

Asylum: Northern Ireland

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the numbers of asylum seekers looking for accommodation in Northern Ireland.

Lord Greenhalgh: The Home Office monitors asylum intake on a regular basis through our internal governance structure.We work daily with accommodation providers in Northern Ireland to ensure sufficient accommodation is available.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Public Lavatories

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Greenhalgh on 17 February (HL6007), to explain why there has been a long delay since the conclusion of their consultation on toilet provision and whether they have allocated funding to take forward the results of this consultation.

Lord Greenhalgh: ‘Toilet provision for men and women’ call for evidence closed on 26 February 2021. A very high number of responses to the call for evidence were received, all of which have now been read and analysed. The department has a team dedicated to taking forward the work and the potential changes to the Building Regulations resulting from the call for evidence. An update will be made in due course.

Voting Rights: British Nationals Abroad

Lord Grocott: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many overseas voters requested a vote in the 2019 general election, listed by the constituency to which they were allocated.

Lord Greenhalgh: At the 2019 General Election, the Electoral Commission reported that approximately 230,000 overseas electors were registered to vote. The Commission published (attached) a breakdown of overseas electors by constituency in Great Britain. https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-05/UKPGE%202019-%20Electoral%20Data-Website.xlsx>.Overseas electors have the option to vote by post, by proxy or in person (where the elector is in the relevant constituency on the day of the poll). The Government does not hold data on the voting method used by overseas electors to cast their vote or how many of them do. The Government does not hold data on the number of overseas electors who submitted a postal vote application.Electoral Data (xlsx, 380.8KB)

Voting Rights: British Nationals Abroad

Lord Grocott: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many additional people will be enfranchised by their proposal to introduce votes for life for British citizens living overseas.

Lord Greenhalgh: The Elections Bill Impact Assessment estimates the removal of the 15 year rule will increase the number of British citizens abroad who are eligible to register to vote from 0.9 million - 1.1 million people to 3.2 million - 3.4 million people in 2023/24.

Treasury

Credit Suisse: Loans

Lord Sikka: To ask Her Majesty's Government, what assessment they have made of the report in The Financial Times on 2 March that staff at Credit Suisse had asked investors to destroy documents to prevent leaks regarding loans made to people who were later sanctioned; and what steps, if any, have they taken to prevent the UK operations of Credit Suisse from destroying such documents.

Baroness Penn: Questions relating to individual firms’ compliance with regulatory requirements, including those relating to record keeping, are matters for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA is operationally independent from the Government. These questions have therefore been passed to the FCA who will respond directly to the noble Lord by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House. All breaches and suspected breach of sanctions must also be reported to the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) in HM Treasury as the competent authority for financial sanctions in the UK.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Dormant Assets Scheme: Loneliness

Lord Bassam of Brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration, if any, they have given to using funds derived from dormant assets in England to combat loneliness; and whetherusing funds for this purposewill be included as an option in the first public consultation under section 18A of the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Until the Dormant Assets Act which has just received Royal Assent, dormant assets funding in England had to be spent on youth, financial inclusion, and social investment. Given this restriction, which was set in primary legislation, the Government was not able to consider other causes such as loneliness.We have now expanded the Scheme, and new primary legislation enables greater flexibility to consider evolving social and environmental needs in England. In line with the Dormant Assets Act [2022], the first consultation launched for the expanded Scheme will include youth, financial inclusion, social investment wholesalers, and community wealth funds as options. As part of the consultation, which will be launched as soon as this Summer, respondents will be able suggest formally alternative causes for which the English portion could be used, including loneliness.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Fire Prevention and First Aid

Earl Attlee: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many government-operated prisons are currently without (1) up-to-date fire risk assessments, or (2) sufficient first aid cover, in place.

Earl Attlee: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many privately operated prisons are currently without (1) up-to-date fire risk assessments, or (2) sufficient first aid cover, in place.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: In accordance with the Fire Safety Order 2005, all government-operated prison buildings have fire risk assessments which are reviewed periodically. Sufficient first aid cover in the prison estate is provided by trained first aiders, and the number of those required in each establishment is achieved via a First Aid Risk Assessment of need. Prisoners also receive first aid/medical cover through on-site healthcare teams or local hospitals when required.In accordance with the Fire Safety Order 2005, all privately operated prisons have fire safety risk assessments which are reviewed as part of the annual statutory compliance audits by the authority. There are contractual requirements in place for first aid and fire safety, the levels required are determined by prison operators. These are then checked periodically by the prison operator and an authority representative.In privately managed prisons, annual assurance checks are carried out by representatives of HM Prison and Probation Service. Where any issues are highlighted, these are addressed with the contractor and, if necessary, action is taken to ensure that prisons meet their legal and contractual obligations.